Envelope gumming and drying apparatus



(No Model.)

0. WOLF. ENVELOPE GUMMING AND DRYING APPARATUS.

Patented Apr. 12, 1887'.

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v UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

CLARENCE \VOLF, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENVELOPE vGUMMING AND DRYING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 361,106, dated April 12, 1887.

Application filed December 15, 1885. Serial No.'185.717. (No model.)

elevation and partial'vertical section thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

My invention relates to improvements in envelopegumming apparatus; and it consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, whereby an envelope is reliably fed to the apparatus, securely held in position, andcarried to the pasting device and gummed the full width of its flap, finally being discharged at the same side of the revolving drum as the feed.

Referring to the drawings, A representsa rotating drum on which envelopes to be gummed are placed; and B represents an endless strap, which is passed around guide-rollers O and said drum A, the envelopes resting directly against said strap, and arranged so that portions of their flaps are exposed so as to be gummed by the brush or gumming device D, these features being well known and forming no part of the present invention.

E represents an endless wire,which is passed around guide-rollers F, and likewise around the drum outside of the strap B, for holding the envelopes on the drum, it being seen that the wireoccupies a position centrally in rela-- tion to said strap, and that both the strap and wire pass nearly around the entire circumference of the drum, so that the material fed between the strap and the wire is discharged or set free on the same side of the drum as that on which it is delivered.

The envelopes are passed downward through guide-rollers O and an opening in the frame B, as usual, and directed between the strap B and wire E, and there laid and clamped in such manner that portions of their flaps are exposed ready for gumming, in which position the envelopes are conveyed to the gumming device, and then around the drum, in order to dry.

As the wire is in contact with the flaps it covers but a small portion of the center thereof, the same being the thickness of a fine line and presenting an insignificant obstacle to the complete gumming of the flaps at said center. The remainder of the exposed portions of the layers of flaps are entirely uncovered. Consequently the gumming device is permitted to apply the gum tosaid flaps the extreme width of the same, so that when the envelope is to be used it may be reliably closed or sealed, especially at the sides of the flaps.

I am aware that it is not new to employ tapes or straps for holding the sides of the flaps of envelopcs'during the gumming operation, the same covering said sides, whereby the latter are prevented from being gummed, and thus remain bare.

In lieu of a wire, E, I may use an endless cord or band of any suitable material.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

An apparatus for gumming envelopes, consisting of the frame B, with opening therein, the feed-rollers 0, located as described, the drum A, the endless wire E, and strap B, the wire arranged centrally of said strap, the guiderollers O and F, and the gumming device D, the feed and the discharge of the machine be ing on the same side of the drum thereof, all substantially as described.

CLARENCE WOLF.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERsHEIM, A. P. GRANT. 

